The Stats on Luke Donald’s Desert Romp

LUKE DONALD, THAT UNASSUMING, polite Englishman, humbled the world’s 63 best golfers in the wind, cold and hail on the southern Arizona desert. The former Northwestern University golfer was a one-man bracket buster at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Now he’s ranked No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, just behind fellow Brit Lee Westwood.

I’m still processing Luke’s victory at Dove Mountain. I didn’t fully realize how dominant it was until I read some of Donald’s stats at Geoff Shackelford’s blog.

Luke set a record for fewest number of holes played to win the event: 89. That’s in six matches, folks, or a possible 108 holes. None of Donald’s matches reached the 18th hole. Only one reached the 17th. He made 32 birdies on his 89-hole romp, hitting 74 percent of the greens. He one-putted 46 times.

Scores of Donald’s six matches: 6 and 5. 2 and 1. 3 and 2. 5 and 4. 6 and 5. 3 and 2.

Any questions?

“Kind of one of those weeks where a lot of things went my way,” understated the one-putting machine.

If he keeps playing like he did last weekend in Tucson, we might want to call Luke “The Donald” instead of Trump. Or Sir Donald. Or, as some have already suggested, Cool Hand Luke.

That fits. Especially considering the way he rolls it on the greens. Tell me you wouldn’t bid on that stroke if it was auctioned on eBay.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Photo: Courtesy of Polo Ralph Lauren)

Rickie Roughs Up Phil

PHIL MICKELSON WAS SMILING. But inside he had to be hurting from the 6 and 5 smackdown he received from that young dandy clad in pink and white, none other than Rickie Fowler. The early Thursday match at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship got off to an ordinary start. Phil won the 3rd hole to go 1 up. Then Rickie climbed all over Lefty, reeling off birdie, eagle, par, par, birdie, a something (Phil conceded), birdie, birdie, par and, at last, another Phil concession. Match over.

I thought Fowler might beat the goofy grin off Mickelson’s face. I should have known better. Not going to happen. Besides, they’re friends, the Golf Channel talking heads emphasized.

Match play is a different animal. You can play pretty well and still get thrashed. Pars don’t get it done, as Phil and others (ahem, Rory McIlroy) learned. You and I might have some bad days at work. But I’ve never come home and said, “Honey, I had a tough day at the office, took an 8 and 7 beating.”

That, by the way, was the score of the Ben Crane-Rory McIlroy match. Rory, the No. 2 seed in his bracket, got “hammered,” as the PGATour.com headline writers put it, by gentle Ben. Let’s just say Crane birdied Thursday. The No. 10 seed will meet Miguel “The Mechanic” Jimenez on Friday.

Another wax job: Bubba Watson polished off Mark Wilson, 6 and 5.

With Tiger and Phil already gone, Lee Westwood became the third No. 1 seed to be eliminated, losing to Nick Watney. Kaymer, No. 1 in the Gary Player bracket, is still alive. The Germanator faces Hunter Mahan in the quarterfinals.

It could be a bloodbath. Because anything can happen in match play.

−The Armchair Golfer